Springbok Women Thrash Brazil in Rugby World Cup Opener as De Bruin Praises “Delightful Performanc

Springbok Women Thrash Brazil in Rugby World Cup Opener as De Bruin Praises “Delightful Performance”

The Springbok Women couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to their Rugby World Cup journey. On a crisp Northampton evening, South Africa outclassed Brazil 66-6, running in ten tries to light up Franklin’s Gardens and claim top spot in Pool D.

For coach Swys de Bruin, the emphatic victory was the perfect launch pad. Beaming after the match, he described it as a “delightful team performance” where both starters and replacements played their part.

A Night to Remember

The Bok Women’s attack was relentless, carving through Brazil’s defence with power and precision. While the scoreline reflects South Africa’s dominance, what stood out was the balance: the forwards bullied in the scrums while the backs converted opportunities with flair.

Just as important was the defensive wall. South Africa kept Brazil tryless, something De Bruin highlighted as a point of pride. Yet, he didn’t shy away from criticism either, warning that dropped balls, poor passes and discipline issues would need urgent fixing before their clash with Italy.

Nolusindiso Booi: “Proud but Focused”

Captain Nolusindiso Booi, visibly emotional after the whistle, lauded her teammates’ appetite for hard work. “Winning a game at the World Cup in such a manner is something I am proud of as captain,” she said, while quickly steering the focus to Italy.

She acknowledged that the side lost a little structure early on but applauded the replacements for restoring momentum. Booi knows the next match is critical: beating Italy would book South Africa’s spot in the quarter-finals. “We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” she insisted, noting that Italy remain a seasoned top-ten side despite their opening loss to France.

Local Reaction and Bigger Picture

Back home, South African fans flooded social media with pride, celebrating a team that has long fought for recognition on the world stage. The hashtag #BokWomen trended on X (formerly Twitter), with supporters praising the players for showing that women’s rugby in South Africa is no longer playing catch-up, but setting the pace.

For context, this is only Brazil’s first World Cup appearance, and their resiliencemaking 130 tackles in the first half aloneearned them plenty of respect. But South Africa’s victory wasn’t just about beating a newcomer; it was about sending a statement that they are here to compete, not just participate.

Eyes on Italy

The squad will now shift base to York, where preparations for Italy begin. De Bruin made it clear that the coming week will be about tightening basics and cutting errors. “We wanted a strong start, and we got that. Now we reset and focus on Italy,” he said.

With momentum firmly in their corner and a growing wave of fan support, the Springbok Women head into their next challenge knowing that another victory will edge them closer to rewriting history for South African women’s rugby.

Source:SABC Sport 

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